Author: Brett Widness

Brett Widness is the online editor for Urban Land. He has previously worked in online editorial at WashingtonPost.com and AOL Real Estate.

Articles by Brett Widness

In Brief: Seattle, Los Angeles Are Top Multifamily Markets for 2018Published on February 20, 2018 in DevelopmentThe top two markets for the multifamily sector from last year trade places for 2018, according to Marcus & Millichap’s 2018 Multifamily North American Investment Forecast. Driven by robust employment in the tech sector and soaring home prices that keep rental demand ahead of elevated deliveries, Seattle-Tacoma ranks first on the chart. The metro area outperforms last year’s leader, Los Angeles, which slid one spot

Europe Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on January 22, 2018 in Inside ULIThe special print issue was distributed to ULI members in Europe, but it is available for all to download through the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled “Europe: What will investors look for next?”

In Brief: The Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2017Published on January 05, 2018 in DevelopmentAccording to a recent report from RCLCO, home sales at America’s 50 top-selling master-planned communities surpassed the 2016 totals by more than 17 percent last year. The Villages in Central Florida's 2,231 sales puts them in the top spot again, while California's Irvine Ranch, with sales of 1,814, comes in at second place, followed by Florida's Lakewood Ranch, with 1,206 total sales.

Urban Land’s Most Popular Articles of 2017Published on December 18, 2017 in Market TrendsAs we close the books on the year, we wanted to look back on the topics that resonated with the readers of Urban Land Online in the past year. Here are the top five most popular articles from 2017.

In Brief: Hong Kong Becomes World’s Priciest Office LocationPublished on December 11, 2017 in Market TrendsHong Kong has surpassed London’s West End as the world’s most expensive office market, according to new research from Cushman & Wakefield. Using proprietary data, the report ranks occupancy costs per workstation as well as workplace densities for newly developed or refurbished office space globally. At a global level, the average annual cost per workstation rose by 1.5 percent over the past 12 months.

Finding the Right Mix for Ten New Product CouncilsPublished on December 04, 2017 in Inside ULIIn response to growing interest in the Institute’s product councils, ULI is expanding the program, adding five brand-new councils and five new flights of existing councils in 2018. Two of the new council chairs share what makes the council experience unique and what makes a good candidate to join a council.

In Brief: London’s New Bond Street Ranked Third Most Expensive for Retail RentsPublished on November 29, 2017 in Retail/EntertainmentSoaring rents have seen London’s New Bond Street rise to become the world’s third most expensive retail street, according to a report by Cushman & Wakefield. The annual Main Streets Across The World report, now in its 29th edition, tracks 451 of the top retail streets around the globe and ranks the most expensive in 68 countries by prime rental value using proprietary data.

Video: Building the Future with ULI Los Angeles Chair Clare DeBrierePublished on October 16, 2017 in Fall MeetingClare DeBriere is former chief operating officer and executive vice president of The Ratkovich Company. In 2017, she founded neighborhood development firm C+C Ventures and is the current chair of ULI Los Angeles. In this video, DeBriere talks about what she loves about the energy and creativity that's found in Los Angeles, and how ULI brings together the best practitioners in every field of land use.

Video: Building the Future with Wayne RatkovichPublished on October 09, 2017 in Inside ULIA native of Los Angeles, Wayne Ratkovich, a ULI Life Trustee and Americas Executive Committee in addition to being founder and CEO of The Ratkovich Company, talks about the importance of ULI in his career.

In Brief: Multifamily Rents’ Growth Outside of Big U.S. CitiesPublished on October 09, 2017 in Market TrendsNational rents have barely moved through the entire peak rental season and into September, according to data from Yardi Matrix, marking the longest period of stagnation in recent history—four consecutive months. Coming in at $1,354 for the month of September, the average rent is only 2.2 percent higher than this time last year.

In Brief: Investment in U.S. Data Centers Already above Record Levels for 2017Published on October 02, 2017 in Market TrendsAccording to a new report from CBRE, investment in the U.S. data center sector reached record levels in the first half of 2017. First half of 2017 investment totaled $18.2 billion, more than double that for all of 2016 (inclusive of all single asset, portfolio and entity-level/M&A transactions). At this pace, investment in the data center sector is on track to surpass the total for the three previous years combined.

In Memory of Nina J. GruenPublished on September 18, 2017 in Inside ULILongtime ULI leader Nina J. Gruen, who pioneered the use of behavioral research to predict market demand for commercial and residential real estate, passed away on September 15, 2017. She was 83. Gruen and her husband, Claude Gruen, joined ULI in 1971, not long after founding Gruen Gruen + Associates, a renowned San Francisco–based firm that continues to provide research-based consulting and implementation services to the real estate industry and public land use and planning policy makers. Gruen, who remained active in ULI throughout her career, was elected as the Institute’s first female trustee in 1982, and was named an honorary member in 1996.

In Brief: Can Growth in Health Care and Other Categories Save America’s Malls?Published on September 11, 2017 in Industry SectorsA new report from CBRE highlights that the two categories occupying the most space in U.S. malls—department stores at 48.7 percent of gross leasable area, and apparel, accessories, and shoes at 29.4 percent—also posted relatively tepid retail-sales growth from 2011 to 2016. In contrast, categories with stronger retail-sales growth, such as health care, still account for relatively little occupancy of U.S. malls

In Brief: Apple’s High-Yielding Retail SpacePublished on August 09, 2017 in Market TrendsSales per square foot at all but a few public retailers have declined to an average of $325 ($3,498 per sq m), down from nearly $375 ($4,036 per sq m) in the early 2000s, according to research by CoStar. But while e-commerce has been disruptive to traditional retailers, several companies, including Apple, Tiffany, and lululemon, have managed to increase sales.

Video: Timelapse of National Building Museum’s “Hive” InstallationPublished on July 18, 2017 in Planning & DesignThe National Building Museum’s latest Summer Block Party installation – “Hive” – in Washington, D.C., is now open to the public. Designed by Studio Gang, an American architecture and urban design practice with offices in Chicago and New York, Hive is built entirely of more than 2,700 wound paper tubes featuring a reflective silver exterior and a vivid magenta interior, and reaches a height of 60 feet.

Video: Technology’s Impact on Our Lives, Jobs, and BusinessPublished on June 16, 2017 in Market TrendsVivek Wadhwa, a futurist and a distinguished fellow and adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering, shared his insights on technology’s impact on our lives, jobs and business, at the ULI Asia Pacific Summit in Singapore, followed by an interactive discussion with Richard Price of CBRE Global Investors and ULI Global board member.

In Brief: Dodge Momentum Index Resumes Growth in MayPublished on June 12, 2017 in DevelopmentFollowing a dip in April, the Dodge Momentum Index advanced 4.0 percent in May to 139.1, up from the April reading, which was revised down to 133.7. The index is a monthly measure of the initial report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year.

May/June Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on June 12, 2017 in Market TrendsThe latest issue of the magazine is now available for download through the Urban Land app. "Design: Driving the live/work plan environment." Other topics include a regional spotlight on the Asia Pacific region, highlighting Lifehub@Kunshan in China and Kashiwa-No-Ha Smart City in Japan, plus "BCG's Move to Hudson Yards" in New York City.

In Brief: Rate of Multifamily Rent Growth in U.S. SlowingPublished on June 05, 2017 in Industry SectorsU.S. multifamily rents increased in May for the third month in a row, according to Yardi Matrix’s monthly survey of 121 markets, but the rate of growth continues to decelerate. On a year-over-year basis, U.S. monthly rents were up 1.5 percent nationwide in May. The year-over-year growth rate has decreased for 13 straight months since peaking at 5.4 percent in April 2016.

Panelists Weigh Policies That Could Boost U.S. Growth Near End of Economic CyclePublished on May 12, 2017 in Capital MarketsThe current U.S. economic expansion is already one of the longest since World War II, but because most investors have been relatively conservative in their investment choices, few reasons exist for concern about a sharp downturn in the near term, panelists said at the 2017 ULI Spring Meeting. They also agreed that certain policy changes like corporate repatriation of profits or tax cuts would increase the possibility of further growth.

In Brief: Strong Rent Growth in European Prime OfficePublished on May 01, 2017 in OfficeHong Kong remained the world’s highest-priced office market last year, according to CBRE Group’s latest survey. Four of the top five fastest-growing markets for prime office rent were in Europe, with Stockholm, Berlin, and Dublin joining Belfast on the list.

March/April Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on May 01, 2017 in Market TrendsThe latest issue of the magazine is now available for download through the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled "Smart Cities: Prototypes for the way we will live." Other topics include "Spring Meeting City: Focus on Seattle," "Investment: Public Private Partnerships" and "Economy: Canada and Pacific Northwest."

In Brief: Dodge Momentum Index Increases 0.9 Percent in MarchPublished on April 17, 2017 in Market TrendsThe Dodge Momentum Index increased by 0.9 percent in March to 144.4 from its revised February reading of 143.2. The index, produced by Dodge Data & Analytics, has risen for six consecutive months, with much of the gain being driven by institutional projects entering planning while commercial projects so far in 2017 have receded slightly. Plus, interest rate survey results from Trepp.

In Brief: Multifamily Market Springs to Life with Solid GainsPublished on April 07, 2017 in Market TrendsAfter a lackluster winter, U.S. rents posted solid gains in March, according to Yardi Matrix’s monthly survey of 121 markets, although the rate of growth continued to decelerate. Average monthly rents rose $6 to $1,312, with the largest rent growth seen in California's Sacramento, Inland Empire, and Los Angeles markets.

Four Trends Driving the Evolution of Grocery StoresPublished on March 21, 2017 in Market TrendsLast year was above average for U.S. grocery store openings as they anchored developments ranging from apartments to malls to even some hotel concepts. Here are four trends driving changes in the modern grocery store concept, based on JLL's recent Grocery Tracker, including scan-and-go payment apps and more prepared meals.

Video: U.S. Mayors at South by Southwest Discuss Tech Economy in CitiesPublished on March 15, 2017 in SustainabilityTwo of the current ULI Rose Center fellows, Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., and Mayor Sam Liccardo of San Jose, California, gave brief interviews on what their cities are doing for the tech sector. housing affordability, and infrastucture. Liccardo said, "We are starting to recognize that the suburban tilt-up campus of a generation ago are not what young creative people want to work in today and we need to think more and more about how we’d retrofit a city that was really largely built for cars into a city that’s built for people."

In Brief: Boomers Continue to Drive U.S. Remodeling MarketPublished on February 28, 2017 in Market TrendsAccording to the latest forecast from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, spending on home improvements is projected to strengthen in the majority of America’s largest metro areas in 2017, with many markets in the East and Midwest expected to post double-digit annual growth. The residential remodeling market reached a record high of $340 billion in 2015—surpassing its previous peak in 2007—and is projected to increase 2 percent per year on average through 2025 after adjusting for inflation.

In Brief: U.S. Industrial Markets Maintained Record Pace in 2016Published on February 08, 2017 in DevelopmentLast month, Cushman & Wakefield reported that U.S. industrial markets absorbed 63.6 million square feet (5.9 million sq m) of space in the final quarter of 2016, which propelled net absorption for the year to a record-setting 282.9 million square feet (26.3 million sq m). According to the company, the U.S. industrial vacancy rate for all product types continued to decline in the fourth quarter, falling 30 basis points (bps) from the prior quarter and 100 bps from the prior year to 5.5 percent.

In Brief: Los Angeles, Seattle Are Top Multifamily Markets for 2017Published on February 02, 2017 in DevelopmentLos Angeles is now the top city in Marcus & Millichap’s National Multifamily Index, moving up 11 spots from a year earlier. The move was fueled by a forecast for further tightening in vacancy and minimal supply growth. Robust job growth pushed Seattle-Tacoma seven spots higher to place second on the list.

Seattle Bikeway Named America’s Best New Bike Lane for 2016Published on January 26, 2017 in SustainabilitySeattle’s Westlake Avenue bikeway was named America’s best new bike lane of 2016 last month by People for Bikes, an industry coalition of bicycling suppliers and retailers, as well as a charitable foundation. What makes the $3.6 million project notably effective is that it takes advantage of the flat topography close to Lake Union which is beneficial to cycling while also connecting an existing network of trails to a desirable destination.

In Brief: U.S. Construction Reaches Cyclical High in Q3 2016Published on December 22, 2016 in Market TrendsAccording to a report by JLL, U.S. construction spending reached $317 billion in the third quarter, a one percent growth increase year-over-year, compared to 7-10 percent increases for the same quarter in previous years. “The construction industry is cyclical and a national slowdown is to be expected,” said Todd Burns, JLL president, project and development services.

Remembering Mayor William H. Hudnut IIIPublished on December 19, 2016 in Market TrendsFormer Indianapolis Mayor William H. Hudnut III, who served as a ULI senior resident fellow and the ULI/Joseph C. Canizaro Chair for Public Policy from 1996 to 2009, passed away on December 18 after a lengthy illness. He was 84.

Urban Land’s Most Popular Articles for 2016Published on December 19, 2016 in Market TrendsAs we close the books on the year, we wanted to look back on the topics that resonated with the readers of Urban Land Online in the past year. Here are the top five most popular articles from 2016.

Nov/Dec Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on December 12, 2016 in Market TrendsTake a full copy of Urban Land along on your tablet! The latest issue of the magazine is now available for download through the Urban Land app. Top stories: Introducing this year’s Urban Land 40 under 40; “Global Capital: Outlook for 2017;” and “Energy & Resilience: Practical Ways to Boost Return.”

Developer’s Perspective on Real Estate’s Hardest Decision: Sell or HoldPublished on November 03, 2016 in DevelopmentSpeaking at the 2016 ULI Fall Meeting, John McNellis, partner at McNellis Partners, a northern California–based developer, shared part of his perspective, as captured in his book, Making It in Real Estate. For those looking to get into the real estate business, McNellis advised trying to take a 20-year approach to your career.

Sept/Oct Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on October 12, 2016 in Market TrendsThe latest issue of the magazine is now available for download in the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled "Dallas: Restless for growth in north Texas." Other topics include "Saving Energy: Inside the Empire State Building," "Asia Pacific: Capital on the Move," and "Europe: Brexit Sinks In."

Audio: Highway Removal and the Plan to Put Dallas Back TogetherPublished on September 12, 2016 in InfrastructureULI member and urban planner Patrick Kennedy recently appeared on the Streetsblog podcast, Talking Headways, to discuss Kennedy's highway removal campaign for Dallas, known as "A New Dallas," and the recent Texas DOT CityMap Plan to re-imagine the freeways and roads in the city’s downtown.

Video: New York City’s Lowline Gets First ApprovalPublished on August 15, 2016 in Planning & DesignIn mid-July, New York City's Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen and the New York City Economic Development Corporation announced the selection of the Lowline as the designated developer for the underground trolley terminal at the base of the Williamsburg Bridge that has been disused for nearly seven decades.

Zillow Models Nearly 2 Million U.S. Homes Flooded by 2100Published on August 08, 2016 in SustainabilityUsing maps released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), real estate listing provider Zillow is predicting that almost 300 U.S. cities would lose more than half of their housing stocks by the year 2100 due to rising sea levels associated with climate change. The estimated value of these homes is $882 billion.

July/August Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on August 01, 2016 in Market TrendsThe latest issue of the magazine is now available for download in the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled "Home Sweet: Softening the Edges for Dense, Urban Living." Other topics include "Housing: Repurposing Office Space," "Japan: Calling Uber," and "Technology: A New Kind of Tenant."

Video: The Hills at New York City’s Governors IslandPublished on July 15, 2016 in Planning & DesignThis month, Governors Island, the 172-acre (70 ha) island in the heart of New York Harbor, will open to the public for the first time its newest addition to the park, The Hills, with Fast Company calling it “an engineering marvel built for resiliency and recreation.”

Video: Gabe Klein on the Start-Up CityPublished on June 27, 2016 in Planning & DesignBased on his unique combination of experiences as a food truck entrepreneur, a Zipcar executive, and as the head of transportation for the cities of Chicago and Washington, D.C., author, investor, and entrepreneur Gabe Klein spoke at the 2016 ULI Asia Pacific Summit about the secret to success in the new global economy.

May/June Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on June 13, 2016 in Market TrendsThe latest issue is now available for download in the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled "Water: Recreation, Refreshment, Resilience." Other topics include the following: "ShanghaiTech: A 'Silicon Valley' for China," "Resilience: Taming Golf's Thirst," and "Peter Calthorpe: China's Urban Design Revolution."

Buying It Right: Advice for Aspiring Developers from Industry VeteransPublished on April 28, 2016 in DevelopmentFor aspiring developers, panelists agreed that choosing a sector—whether it be residential, office, industrial, or something else—does not particularly matter, but that you have to start somewhere, start small, and specialize within whatever sector you do choose. “All happy real estate deals are alike—they start with a motivated seller,” said John E. McNellis of McNellis Partners, speaking at the 2016 ULI Spring Meeting.

Mar/Apr Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on April 15, 2016 in Market TrendsThe latest issue is now available for download in the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled "Philadelphia: A History of Innovation." Other cover topics include: "Tokyo: Rising Values and Redevelopment," "Janette Sadik-Khan: How Pedestrians Won Times Square," and " The New Comcast Center: A Vertical Silicon Valley."

Video: Janette Sadik-Khan Speaking About Streetfight, Times SquarePublished on April 11, 2016 in Market TrendsJanette Sadik-Khan, New York’s transportation commissioner from 2007 to 2013, recently spoke at Politics & Prose, one of Washington, D.C.'s premier independent bookstore and cultural hub, promoting her new book, Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution. Look for an excerpt from the book in the current print issue of Urban Land and online next week.

Video: 10 Parks That Changed AmericaPublished on April 01, 2016 in Planning & DesignPBS will broadcast a new documentary, 10 Parks That Changed America, on April 12th. Produced by WTTW in Chicago, the program identifies the 10 most influential urban parks in the country, from the era of America’s early settlers to the present day, ranging from the Squares of Savannah, Georgia, to the High Line of New York City.

Video: Baltimore Hosts First U.S. Light FestivalPublished on March 28, 2016 in Market TrendsPremiering this week, Light City Baltimore is the first large-scale, international "light festival" in the United States. Similar festivals have been held in Berlin, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro, and Sydney, Australia. Light City Baltimore provides a backdrop for the celebration of ideas, ingenuity and creativity through art, music and innovation.

Former ULI Chairman Joseph W. O’Connor Dies at 70Published on March 25, 2016 in Market TrendsJoseph W. O’Connor, 70, of North Palm Beach, Florida, passed away at home in February surrounded by family and friends following a courageous ten-month battle with cancer. O’Connor founded Copley Real Estate Advisors, one of the largest and most successful real estate investment firms in the United States. He was cochair of AEW Capital Management and chairman of the Urban Land Institute from 2001 to 2003, in addition to being a ULI Foundation governor and trustee.

Video: Trailer for City of Trees DocumentaryPublished on March 16, 2016 in SustainabilityA film about the intersection of public stimulus and a community's fight for equal access to good jobs and safe parks, City of Trees will be shown as part of the Environmental Film Festival this month in Washington, D.C

Video: Drone Flyover of Apple’s Campus Construction in CaliforniaPublished on March 10, 2016 in Planning & DesignThis video, captured by drone by photographer Duncan Sinfield, shows the progress on the spaceship-like main building, plus a 100,000 square foot fitness center, parking structures for nearly 11,000 cars, a research and development facility, and 1,000 seat underground auditorium. Once completed, the Apple Campus 2 will house some 12,000 employees.

Video: Inside New York’s WTC Train StationPublished on March 04, 2016 in Planning & DesignDowntown Manhattan got a new architectural landmark last week, with the opening of architect Santiago Calatrava’s World Trade Center Transportation Hub. The distinctive structure with wing-like ribs connects the PATH commuter trains from New Jersey to the New York subway system, as well as the trans-Hudson ferries. Take a virtual tour with this video by Bloomberg Business.

Jan/Feb Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on February 22, 2016 in Market TrendsThe latest issue is now available for download in the Urban Land app. The cover package for this issue is titled "Finding Delight in Density." Other cover topics include: "Emerging Trends: Top Markets in Europe and Asia," "Technology: Advances in Smart Glass, and Design," and "Chile's Alejandro Aravena."

Urban Land’s Most Popular Articles for 2015Published on January 04, 2016 in Market TrendsAs we turn our calendar over to 2016, we wanted to look back on the topics that resonated with the readers of Urban Land Online in the past year, including rebuilding vibrant downtowns and ExxonMobil's new campus in Houston.

Sept/Oct Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on September 29, 2015 in Market TrendsThe latest issue of Urban Land is now available for download via the app. If you have not downloaded it before, you can do so now at no charge. The cover package for this issue is titled "San Francisco" and focuses on the host city of this year's ULI Fall Meeting.

Video: 606 Trail Opens in ChicagoPublished on September 08, 2015 in Planning & DesignAfter more than a decade of planning, Chicago this June opened the first section of the trail, now known as the 606. An elevated railroad right-of-way converted to a pedestrian greenway, the 606 is a multifunctional park system that also includes a bike path and five neighborhood parks on the ground level along its 2.7-mile (4.5 km) stretch.

Video: Explaining the Benefits of a “Road Diet”Published on August 31, 2015 in Planning & DesignJeff Speck, planning expert and author of Walkable City and coauthor of Suburban Nation , has created a series of videos that illustrate how cities are reducing on-street parking and better utilizing their existing roads to create calmer traffic patterns, wider sidewalks, and dedicated bike lanes.

July/August Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on August 14, 2015 in Market TrendsThe latest issue of Urban Land is now available for download via the app. If you have not downloaded it before, you can do so now at no charge. The cover package for this issue is titled "Crafting Authenticity: Designing retail spaces that consumers embrace."

Video: How San Francisco Is Striving for Zero WastePublished on August 10, 2015 in Market TrendsOnly one third of the waste in the United States is recycled or composted. Racing to Zero, a highlights some of the amazing solutions in San Francisco, which is successfully taking the necessary steps to reach zero waste by 2020.

Time Lapse: A 57-Story Tower Built in 19 Days in ChinaPublished on July 07, 2015 in Market TrendsOn the outskirts of Changsha in southern China stands a new tower. At a mere 204 meters (669 feet) it's less than a third of the height of Shanghai's tallest, but a time-lapse video by the BBC shows it shooting up at the rate of three floors per day.

May/June Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on June 22, 2015 in Market TrendsThe latest issue of Urban Land is now available for download via the app. If you have not downloaded it before, you can do so now at no charge. The cover package for this issue is titled "Crafting Authenticity: Designing retail spaces that consumers embrace."

Video: Designing for Social ImpactPublished on June 22, 2015 in SustainabilityIn a talk for TedXMidAtlantic, a local version of the nonprofit TED Talks, Liz Ogbu explains why she sees herself as an architect that designs for social impact, not buildings. Ogbu is an expert on sustainable design and spatial innovation in challenged urban environments and will be one of the keynote speakers at this year's Housing Opportunity conference.

March/April Issue of Urban Land Is Available for DownloadPublished on April 20, 2015 in Market TrendsFor those of you who have already downloaded the Urban Land app for tablets and smartphones, the latest issue is now available. In addition to the Apple and Android app stores, you can now download the magazine on your Kindle Fire and Windows 8 devices.

New York Tops Walk Score’s 10 Most Walkable U.S. CitiesPublished on April 09, 2015 in Market TrendsWalk Score, now owned by internet brokerage Redfin, has released its 2015 ranking of the most walkable U.S. cities with populations exceeding 300,000. New York, the nation’s most walkable city, has increased its lead over San Francisco, which came in second.

Creating the Leading Urban Think Tank in the Sun BeltPublished on March 30, 2015 in SustainabilityLast fall, William Fulton, a former mayor and planner by training, left Southern California to take a new position at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University in Houston. Leveraging Rice’s strengths in computer science, architecture, civil engineering, and other disciplines, Fulton hopes to establish the leading urban think tank in the Sun Belt.

U.S. Office Occupancy at Seven-Year HighPublished on March 30, 2015 in Market TrendsAccording to a new report from CBRE Research, annual tenant demand, as measured by net absorption, totaled 52.7 million square feet (4.9 million sq m) in 2014—the highest annual amount since 2007.

McKinsey’s Kirkland Says to Prepare for “A.I. Spring”Published on March 16, 2015 in Market TrendsRik Kirkland, director of publishing and principal at consultancy McKinsey & Co., believes that one story has the potential to “change everything” between now and the year 2100. Speaking at ULI’s Midwinter Meeting in Paris, Kirkland said, “The biggest story unfolding around us today is we’re witnessing the dawn of the era of machine learning and artificial intelligence.”

Reimagining Houston’s Transit SystemPublished on March 12, 2015 in SustainabilityAfter a two-year process, Houston’s existing bus system will be restructured to give better coverage and boost frequency to key areas without cost. Could other systems be similarly optimized?

Google Rethinks Its Office NeedsPublished on March 06, 2015 in Planning & DesignGoogle has announced plans to add approximately 1.1 million square feet to the existing 2 million square feet of office space at the company's corporate headquarters in Mountain View, California, in collaboration with architects BIG and Heatherwick Studio.

Real Estate Representatives in Fortune’s 40 Under 40Published on October 09, 2014 in Market TrendsAirbnb's Brian Chesky shares the top spot in this year's Fortune 40 under 40 with Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. Both companies have faced their share of controversy, but are influential in the built environment and the "sharing" economy, particularly as both look to expand internationally.

The Lowline: A Park Beneath the Hustle and Bustle of New YorkPublished on September 17, 2014 in DevelopmentDan Barasch is the co-founder and executive director of the Lowline, a proposed park beneath the streets of New York City—in the old Williamsburg Bridge Trolley Terminal. In use from 1908 to 1948, the terminal is long abandoned. The Lowline will be a one-acre park in a neighborhood where green space is hard to come by.

Submit Your Ideas for the Fall Meeting in New York CityPublished on June 05, 2014 in Market TrendsOnce again, ULI will crowdsource a session for this year’s Fall Meeting in New York City. Using the ULI Meeting Idea Generator, participants can suggest topics and vote for their favorites. In 2013, a panel on the use of micro-units and the shared economy was named the winner.

Video: Would You Buy a Driverless Car With No Brakes?Published on May 29, 2014 in Market TrendsFollowing rumors about a venture capital round that would put Uber's valuation at more than $10 billion, ULI senior visiting fellow Gabe Klein was on Bloomberg TV's Street Smart to talk about Uber, car-free households, and other startups.

Video: Are Uber and AirBnb Worth $10 Billion Each?Published on May 23, 2014 in Market TrendsFollowing rumors about a venture capital round that would put Uber's valuation at more than $10 billion, ULI senior visiting fellow Gabe Klein was on Bloomberg TV's Street Smart to talk about Uber, car-free households, and other startups.

Chief Executive of Hong Kong to Address ULI Asia Pacific SummitPublished on May 16, 2014 in NewsThe Honorable C.Y. Leung, chief executive, Hong Kong S.A.R., and founding chairman of ULI Asia Pacific will be among the keynotes at the third annual ULI Asia Pacific Summit later this month. Titled “What’s Next? The Dynamics of the Future,” this year’s summit will take place May 20 to 22 at the Grand Hyatt in Hong Kong.

Three Growth Models Embrace Healthy PrinciplesPublished on April 14, 2014 in SustainabilityHealth and wellness are driving part of the offering at Whole Foods, Westin Hotels, and the Baja California resort industry in a way that is likely to increase over time, panelists said at the ULI Spring Meeting last week in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Monday’s Numbers: April 7, 2014Published on April 07, 2014 in Capital MarketsReal estate investment trusts (REITs) are off to a strong start in 2014, showing returns far in excess of alternative public equity investments. REITs continue to have access to both equity and debt capital in size and at low cost, fueling their ability to selectively acquire property on an accretive basis.

Previewing the ULI/EY Real Estate Consensus ForecastPublished on March 28, 2014 in Capital MarketsNext week, ULI will release the ULI/EY Real Estate Consensus Forecast, a semiannual report based on a survey of 39 of the nation’s leading real estate economists and analysts. The report looks at several broad benchmarks including gross domestic product and the unemployment rate, but also indices specific to the real estate industry.

Illinois and Maryland Are Top States for LEEDPublished on February 24, 2014 in SustainabilityThe U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its ranking of the top 10 states for LEED, the widely used green building rating system. Illinois was named the top state for 2013 with 2.29 square feet (0.213 sq m) of space per capita certified during the year, followed by Maryland and Virginia.

Building Happier, Healthier, and More Sustainable CitiesPublished on January 27, 2014 in Planning & DesignWhile many books have recently focused on making cities denser, more walkable, or more functional, asking how to make urban populations happier is a slightly different question. Charles Montgomery makes his case in his new book The Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design.

Most Popular Articles for 2013Published on January 06, 2014 in Market TrendsNow in its third year, Urban Land Online saw a record traffic month in July. While we hate to play favorites -- Apgar Award notwithstanding -- we did want to recognize the articles from last year that helped make our traffic numbers possible.

Event App Helps Attendees Get the Most from the ULI Fall MeetingPublished on October 31, 2013 in NewsThose attending the Institute’s 2013 Fall Meeting in Chicago November 5–8 will find it easier to get the most out of the event thanks to a new mobile app for iPads, iPhones, and other smartphones capable of browsing the web. The free app is designed to help attendees plan their schedules, communicate with each other instantly through Twitter, comment on programs—and even find nearby restaurants.

Urban Land Coming to Mobile DevicesPublished on October 21, 2013 in NewsThis fall, Urban Land will be available for the first time as an app for tablets and smartphones on either Apple’s iOS operating system or Google’s Android. As a preview, the Urban Land magazine app will offer our September/October issue free of charge to anyone wishing to download it. Starting with the November/December issue, an authentication feature that restricts access to ULI members will be added.

ULI Forecast Sees CMBS Issuance Rising to $100 Billion in 2015Published on October 21, 2013 in Capital MarketsA new U.S. forecast from the Urban Land Institute and EY projects continued improvement for real estate capital markets and commercial real estate fundamentals. The latest findings reveal high expectations for growth in the housing sector, as well as improved confidence about commercial mortgage–backed securities (CMBS) issuance, existing single-family housing prices, and industrial-sector fundamentals when compared to responses from just six months ago.

Suburban Revitalization: Adjusting to the New NormalPublished on September 27, 2013 in Planning & DesignIn her book The End of the Suburbs, Leigh Gallagher argues that while the suburbs suffered the worst during the housing bust, the recession is a catalyst for a much larger trend, driven by high fuel prices, the decline of the nuclear family, and the resurgence of cities. But she also says, "Not all suburbs are going to vanish."

“Rate Risk” Tops Real Estate Issues for 2013Published on June 17, 2013 in Capital MarketsInterest and capitalization rate risk, shifting demand for health care, and the resurgence of capital markets are the top three risks to real estate for 2013, according to the Chicago-based Counselors of Real Estate (CRE).

Innovation Fuels CitiesPublished on May 31, 2013 in Market TrendsWhile innovation is often associated with Silicon Valley’s high-tech industry or New York City’s financial giants, programs like Google Fiber and incubators are bringing growth to cities like Portland and Kansas City, according to panelists at the 2013 ULI Spring Meeting in San Diego.

Four Growth Strategies for Uncertain TimesPublished on May 16, 2013 in Market TrendsWhether it comes in the form of the federal sequestration budget cuts or a new startup disrupting an entire industry, Geoff Colvin, author and senior editor of Fortune, says companies and individuals are increasingly have to do work around higher levels of uncertainty.

Cities Leading the Way on SustainabilityPublished on May 03, 2013 in SustainabilityAt the second New York Times Energy for Tomorrow conference, titled “Building Sustainable Cities,” panels covering topics ranging from self-driving cars to clean-tech investing in China were hosted by Times columnists, including Thomas Friedman, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Joe Nocera, and Bill Keller.

Colvin Sees Rapid Obsolescence As a Challenge for BuildersPublished on March 22, 2013 in Capital MarketsGeoff Colvin, longtime editor and columnist for Fortune, spoke with Urban Land in anticipation of his keynote in May at the 2013 ULI Spring Meeting in San Diego. One of the issues he sees for the built environment is adaptability to ever-changing business models.

How Singapore Builds Smarter DensityPublished on February 01, 2013 in Planning & DesignA new report draws upon Singapore’s successful urbanization experience. Despite its population density, the city-state has consistently ranked favorably in various surveys measuring the livability and sustainability of cities around the globe.

Hines Competition Focused on New Land Uses for Area Near Proposed StadiumPublished on January 14, 2013 in Planning & DesignWith the Super Bowl just a few weeks away, this year’s ULI Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition looks at how stadiums can spur redevelopment. A Minneapolis site, adjacent to the proposed location for a new NFL stadium in Downtown East, has been selected as this year’s focus. The ideas competition, open to graduate-level students will provide multidisciplinary teams the opportunity to propose a long-term development plan that creates value for property owners, city residents, and the greater Twin Cities region.

India May Outpace China by 2032Published on January 07, 2013 in Market TrendsAlthough the World Bank projects the Chinese economy will grow by more than 8 percent in 2013, developers may find better bets in India and some other Asian countries over the next 20 years, according to a report from Hong Kong-based Global Demographics.

University Library ‘Goes Green’ For FinalsPublished on December 06, 2012 in Planning & DesignCornell University students looking for a break from the winter weather and the pressure of finals can still get a hint of warmer weather, thanks to a temporary grass installation in several buildings on campus.

Tending to Ireland’s Green ShootsPublished on December 03, 2012 in Capital MarketsAfter five long years of fiscal crisis, there appears to be some stabilization in commercial real estate, according to a CBRE report issued in November. CBRE analysts cite four consecutive quarters of positive returns in Ireland’s commercial real estate sector.

Approaching the Fiscal CliffPublished on November 30, 2012 in Market TrendsIn the past few months, unemployment has fallen, the housing market has strengthened, gas prices have fallen, and consumer confidence is at a five-year high. Would those positive indicators be negated by the economic shock of falling off the fiscal cliff, and plunge the U.S. back into recession?

London Gets the Gold in Mori’s Global Power IndexPublished on November 26, 2012 in Market TrendsFor the first time since the Mori Memorial Foundation began compiling its Global Power City Index in 2008, New York City fell from the top spot. Mostly due to the activities surrounding this year’s Olympics, the Japanese-based researcher found that London ranked the highest in terms of "magnetism."